Pol Roger was just nineteen when he founded his estate in 1849. Still a family-run enterprise, fifth generation Hubert de Billy is one of the descendants who manage the House today. With 89-hectares of vineyards supplying half of their grape requirements and illustrious premises containing immaculate facilities including pristinely polished stainless-steel tanks. Today they own 92 hectares of vineyards and its cellars in Epernay, just off the Avenue de Champagne run for 7.5 kms, 34 metres below the ground at a constant 9 Celsius.

Remarkably, a small team of less than ten complete everything in the cellar by hand and Pol Roger boast four of the region's remaining fifteen riddlers, who impressively turn over 60,000 bottles a day. Indeed, it is this style and their respect for tradition that initiated Sir Winston Churchill's lifelong attachment to Pol Roger, who famously insisted: "In defeat I need it, in victory I deserve it." Today, their prestige cuvée is named in honour of the great man.

Pol Roger Brut Vintage is produced in limited quantities using the traditional House blend from twenty Grand and Premier Cru vineyards in the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. Second fermentation takes place in the coolest Pol Roger cellars, thirty-three metres below ground level at temperatures of just 9°C, some 2-3°C cooler than the cellars of other producers. The cooler cellars slow down bottle fermentation, producing a champagne with finer bubbles, a characteristic for which these small production releases of Pol Roger are known for. The final blend is aged for eight years in the cellars before disgorgment and release.

Weather: The 2009 harvest began with a particularly cold winter but mild spring temperatures helped avoid any frost damage. Some stormy spells boosted the vegetation in late spring and June and July were altogether variable with hot spells and rainy patches. The glorious August weather was perfect for the grapes growth, hot and dry days followed by cool nights led to rapid maturation. Harvest began on September 8th and ended on the 21st.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru - Montagne de Reims & Côte des Blancs.
Grape Varieties: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 8 years
Disgorged: 17th October 2016
Dosage: 7 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030

Tasting Note: A deep pale lemon colour with a fine bead of bubbles. The nose is youthful with candied lemon and grapefuit. On the alate a creamy autolytic mouth feels with a refreshing backbone of acidty. Throughout the mid palate until the end has the underlying Pol characteristics but with a youthfulness. It is more accessible compared to 2008